Protective apparatus for concrete pipe forming machines



3, 1968 H. G. ROBINSON 3,396,441

PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE PIPE FORMING MACHINES Filed Oct. 4,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 13, 1968 H. G. ROBINSON PROTECTIVE APPARATUSFOR CONCRETE PIPE FORMING MACHINES Filed 0012. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Harv/a 6. flab/0J0 INVENTOR.

ATTORMSYJ United States Patent Office 3,396,441 Patented Aug. 13, 19683,396,441 PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE PIPE FORMING MACHINES HaroldG. Robinson, Austin, Tex., assignor to Austin Concrete Works, Inc.,Austin, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Oct. 4, 1965, Ser. No.492,689 9 Claims. (Cl. 25-36) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A protectiveapparatus for use on the vibrating table of a concrete pipe formingmachine which includes a cover plate positioned on the vibrating table,a conical distributor plate positioned on the cover plate with its outeredge spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the cover plate and a wiperfor Wiping mud from the cover plate respon' sive to rotation of saidvibrating table. This abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application which, of course, is measured by theclaims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of theinvention in any way.

The present invention relates to protection of the lower components of aconcrete pipe forming machine from spilled concrete mix material andparticularly to a protective apparatus for catching and disposing ofspilled concrete mix material.

In the forming of hell and spigot or tongue and groove concrete pipe theusual pipe forming machine is provided with a rotating vibrating tablewhich connects to an insert called a curing pallet, positioned in thelower end of the mold in which the concrete pipe is formed. The curingpallet is rotated and vibrated to compact the concrete material mix inthe hell or groove end of the pipe since the usual packer head will notform or compact the concrete material mix at the bell or groove end ofthe pipe. The spigot or tongue ends of the pipe are readily formed by aninsert which is incorporated in the top of the mold and are compacted bythe usual packer head.

Such forming operations utilizing a vibrating table are accompanied bythe spilling of quantities of the concrete material mix or mud, as it iscommonly called, onto the top of the vibrating table. Most vibratingtable tops are provided with a plurality of annular series of holes bywhich a connection is made to curing pallets of different sizes. The mudfalling on the vibrating table top and par ticularly the mud which fallsthrough the 'holes in the table top onto the equipment below must beperiodically removed in order to assure proper continued operation ofthe equipment and to avoid equipment damage. Such removal may requireconsiderable effort and time. It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a protective apparatus for a concrete pipe formingmachine which will greatly reduce the time and effort which is spent inthe removal of mud from the vibrating table and the equipment beneaththe vibrating table.

Another object of the present invention is to protect equipment of aconcrete pipe forming machine below the vibrating table top from spilledconcrete material mix.

Another object is to reduce the time normally spent in cleaningconcrete.

A further object is to provide a cover assembly for the top of thevibrating table of a concrete pipe forming machine to catch spilledconcrete material mix and a means tor cleaning such material mix fromsuch cover assembly during pipe forming operations.

Still another object is to provide a protective apparatus to protectparts of a concrete pipe forming machine from spilled concrete materialmix and to utilize the movement of the vibrating table to assist in theremoval of such material mix.

A still further object is to provide a pipe forming machine with alight, inexpensive protective cover assembly which will protect thelower components of the machine from spilled concrete material mix.

Still a further object is to provide a protective apparatus whichincludes a plurality of cover assemblies for the vibrating table of apipe forming machine, each assembly being used for covering thevibrating table for a particular size of pipe being formed and suchassemblies being easily removed and replaced.

These and other objects of the present invention are hereinafter more'fully explained and set forth in relation to the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view, partly in section, of a concrete pipeforming machine which includes the protective apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the details of the protectiveapparatus of the present invention,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the top of a vibrating table with which theprotective apparatus of the present invention is to be used.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the cover plate component of the protectiveapparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the protectiveapparatus of the present invention taken along lines 5-5 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a partial vertical sectional view of the wiper assembly usedwith the cover assembly of the present invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The pipe forming machine illustrated in FIGURE 1 is of the usual typeand provides a turntable T having at least two stations for receiving amold M in which the concrete pipe is to be formed. The table T may berotated to position one of its stations between the columns or standardsC which provide the support for the drive mechanism D of the packer headH and the upper mold closure A. The packer head H is movable in avertical direction to extend downwardly through the upper mold closuretable A, through the mold M and to be positioned within the curingpallet P. A mixture of materials from which the concrete pipe is to beformed, normally called mud, is supplied to the top of table A by theconveyor E and is distributed into the mold M surrounding the packerhead H and its shaft. Beneath the turntable T, a vibrating table V ispositioned. The curing pallet P is connected to the vibrating table V bythe pins B which are secured to the vibrating table V. Suitablevibrating means G are provided directly connecting to the vibratingtable V which impart the desired vibrations to the table V. Thevibrating table V is mounted on a shaft S which is rotated by the meansR to cause the vibrating table V and the curing pallet P to be rotatedduring the pipe forming operation. Thus the vibrating table V will causethe curing pallet P to rotate and vibrate during the pipe formingoperations to compact and form the mud to the desired shape in the lowerend of the mold M.

The top of the vibrating table V, as can be seen in FIGURE 3, isprovided with a plurality of annular series of holes, each annularseries being used for receiving the pins B to connect one particularsize of curing pallet P to the vibrating table V. These holes extendcompletely through the table top 10 and the pins are adapted to ex tendtherethrough and be secured by a nut 12 on the underside of the tabletop 10 as best shown in FIGURE 2. Additionally, a series of holes areprovided in the top 10 through which the adjusting bolts F for thevibrating means G connect to allow adjustment of the vibrating means Gfrom a position above the vibrating table V. A central opening K in thetop 10 is provided to allow 3 adjustment of the alignment of the shaft Sfrom a position above the table V.

The pipe forming machine operates by filling the mold M with mud andcommencing rotation of the packer head H while the vibrating table Vcommences rotation and vibration of the curing pallet P Because of thismovement of the curing pallet P some of the mud within the mold M fallsdownwardly onto the top of the vibrating table V. Because of the manyholes extending through the top 10, the mud which is spilled will fallonto the vibrating 'means G and onto the rotating means R. A veryconsiderable amount of time is required to clean the mud from th separts or components beneath the turntable T.

The present invention contemplates the use of a protective apparatus orstructure which will catch the spilled mud and protect the vibratingtable and the mechanisms and parts therebelow from contact with the mud.The protective apparatus of the present invention includes the coverassembly and the means for wiping the cover assembly free of mud.

The cover assembly includes the cover plate 14 and the conicaldistributor plate 16 which is positioned on the cover plate 14 as shown.A separate cover assembly is contemplated to be used with each separatesize of curing pallet P and for this reason the cover plate 14 isprovided with only one of the series of annular holes 18 through whichshafts 20 of the pins B extend. A suitable means of orienting the pins Bis normally provided in the table V and such means is included in thecover plate 14. The specific means shown includes an orientation hole 22through which the orientation pin 24 on the pin B extends to preventrotation of the pin B during pipe forming operations. The plate 14 isalso provided with additional holes to receive the heads on theadjusting bolts F for the vibrating means G and a central opening 26through which the alignment of the shaft S may be adjusted.

The conical distributor plate 16 is made to cooperate with only one ofthe cover plates 14. It is relatively light gauge material and itsupwardly pointed apex is posi tioned above the center of plate 14. Theouter edge of plate 16 is positioned on the plate 14 at a position whichapproximates the periphery of the outer edges of the pins B. The outeredge of conical plate 16 therefore defines the inner edge of the flatannular space 28 on the cover plate 14.

Both plates 14 and 16 are preferably made from a relatively light gaugesheet metal, for example 16 gauge, so that they will be sufficientlylight to be easily changed when the size of pipe being formed is to bechanged. The cover assembly will therefore cover all of the holes whichextend through the top 10 of the vibrating table V. Thus, any mud whichis spilled from the mold M Will fall onto the conical member 16. The mudcollecting on the conical member 16 will move downwardly and outwardlyonto the annular space 28 on the plate 14 responsive to the rotation andvibration of the assembly. The wiper assembly 30 is provided to scrapethe mud from the annular space 28. The wiper assembly 30 is stationaryand the rotation of the table V will cause the entire annular space 28to pass under the wiper assembly 30.

The wiper assembly 30 is mounted on a portion of the frame of the pipeforming machine and is adjustable so that it will scrape the annularspace 28 of each of the cover assemblies which is used with the pipeforming machine. The wiper assembly 30 includes the arm 32 having theslot 34 through which the bolts 36 secure the assembly to the framemember 38 and the strip 40. The strip 40 is secured to the arm 32 and isof leather or rubber or other suitable material which will maintainwiping engagement with the surface of annular space 28 despite itsvibrations and rotation.

The wiper assembly 30 as shown extends substantially radially withrespect to the cover plate 14. It is contem plated that the wiperassembly 30 might be positioned at '4' an angle with respect to theradial direction on cover plate 14 so that the rotation of the coverplate 14 will cause the mud collecting against the wiper assembly 30 tomove outwardly to be discharged from the top of the annular space 28.

While the specific structure shown for the cover assembly includes thetwo components of the cover plate 14 and the conical member 16, it iscontemplated that such assembly could be made of a single plate whichwould cover the holes through the top 10 of the vibrating table V andalso provide for the distribution of the spilled mud to the annularspace surrounding the position of the pins B so that it may be wipedtherefrom by the wiper assembly 39. In the event that a single flatcover plate is to be used to protect against spilled mud without the useof a conical member, it is necessary that the plate not include thecentral hole 26. The adjustments which are needed for the alignment ofthe shaft S can then be made only by the removal of such cover platefrom the top 10 of the table V. Also, a conical member may be usedwithout using the fiat plate providing it is provided with a flattenedouter periphery or that the cone extends beyond the outermost of theholes through the top 10 of the table V. In such application of theconical member separately the pins B will extend through holes in suchmember.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the protective apparatus of thepresent invention will prevent spilled mud from collecting and settlingon the lower com ponents of the pipe forming machine on which it is installed and thereby eliminate the need for cleaning of such componentsand the consequent loss of machine time resulting from the shutdown ofthe machine for cleaning. The apparatus further distributes the spilledmud responsive to the movement of the vibrating table of the concretepipe forming machine to an area where it is readily handled fordisposal.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a concrete pipe forming machine which includes amold, a vertically moving packer head, a curing pallet positioned in thelower end of said mold, a vibrating table, means connecting saidvibrating table to said curing pallet whereby movement of said table isimparted to said curing pallet, a protective apparatus comprising,

a removable cover positioned on said vibrating table and coveringsubstantially the entire upper surface thereof to prevent spilled mudfrom falling on such table, and

means removing the mud on said cover responsive to the movement of saidvibrating table.

2. The combination with a concrete pipe forming machine which includes amold, a vertically moving packer head, a curing pallet positioned in thelower end of said mold, a vibrating table, means connecting saidvibrating table to said curing pallet whereby movement of said table isimparted to said curing pallet, of a protective apparatus comprising,

a removable cover positioned on said vibrating table and coveringsubstantially the entire upper surface thereof to prevent spilled mudfrom falling on said table, and

a wiper adapted to remove mud from said cover responsive to movement ofsaid cover and said table.

3. The combination with a concrete pipe forming machine which includes amold, a vertically moving packer head, a curing pallet positioned in thelower end of said mold, a vibrating table, means connecting saidvibrating table to said curing pallet whereby movement of said table isimparted to said curing pallet, of a protective apparatus comprising,

a removable cover plate positioned on said vibrating table and coveringthe entire upper surface thereof, holes in said cover plate throughwhich said connecting means extend between said vibrating table and saidcuring pallet,

a removable conical distributor plate positioned on said cover plate andhaving its apex extending upwardly approximately above the center ofsaid cover plate, and

means removing the mud falling on said cover plate and said conicalplate.

4. The combination with a concrete pipe forming machine which includes amold, a vertically moving packer head, a curing pallet positioned in thelower end of said mold, a vibrating table, means connecting saidvibrating table to said curing pallet whereby movement of said table isimparted to said curing pallet, of a protective apparatus comprising,

a cover plate positioned on said vibrating table and covering the entireupper surface thereof,

holes through said cover plate through which said connecting meansextends between said vibrating table and said curing pallet,

a conical distributor plate positioned on said cover plate and havingits apex extending upwardly approximately above the center of said coverplate,

the outer edge of said distributor plate positioned on said cover plateand defining the inner edge of an annular surface on said cover plate,and

a wiper engaging said annular surface of said cover plate to scrape themud collecting thereon responsive to the movement of said vibratingtable.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein,

the outer edge of said conical distributor plate extends outwardly onsaid cover plate to approximately the outer edge of said connectingmeans, and

the outer edge of said distributor plate is notched to receive saidconnecting means.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein,

said cover plate and said conical distributor plate are made from arelatively light gauge sheet metal.

7. The combination according to claim 4 wherein,

said wiper is secured to the frame of said machine and the rotation ofsaid vibrating table moves said annular surface on said cover plateunder said wiper.

8. The combination with a concrete pipe forming machine which includes amold, a vertically moving packer head, a curing pallet positioned in thelower portion of said mold, a vibrating table positioned below saidcuring pallet, means imparting a vibration to said vibrating table,means connecting said vibrating table to said curing pallet wherebyvibrations of said table are imparted to said curing pallet, of aprotective apparatus comprising.

a cover plate positioned on said table and covering the entire top ofsaid table,

holes in said cover plate whereby said connecting means extend throughsaid plate to said curing pallet,

a conical member positioned above said plate and having its apex spacedabove the center of said plate and its outer periphery in engagementwith said plate at a diameter approximating the outer periphery of saidconnecting means,

said cover plate having an annular exposed upper surface surroundingsaid cone,

a wiper assembly being adjustable in length to wipe the annular exposedsurface of said plate whereby mud falling from said mold will bedeflected by said cone onto the annular exposed surface of said coverplate and wiped therefrom by said wiper to protect the vibrating tableand the means imparting vibrations to said table from said mud.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said wiper assemblycomprises,

an arm extending over and spaced from said annular surface of said coverplate,

a flexible strip secured to said arm on engaging said upper surface, and

means securing said arm whereby rotation of said vibrating table willrotate said annular surface of said cover plate under said wiperassembly and said strip will wipe spilled mud from said surfaceresponsive to said rotation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,106,086 8/1914 Dunn 25--361,862,709 6/1932 Schultz 25-36 1,891,731 12/1932 Schultz 25-36 1,899,1152/1933 Schultz 25-36 2,178,015 10/1939 Brunetti 2536 3,083,433 4/1963Tiller 25-36 XR WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

